The Artist at Ringside
Mahonri Young (American, 1877–1957)
Oil on canvas
30 x 25 in.
Signed lower center, "Mahonri Young 1934"
This dynamic painting by Mahonri Young, completed in 1934, captures the intensity and drama of a boxing match with striking realism. Young, renowned for his depictions of boxers, rose to international fame for his ability to portray the raw energy and movement of the sport. His works were collected by luminaries such as Cole Porter, Joseph Pulitzer, and John D. Rockefeller, and are now part of prestigious collections, including the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Born in Salt Lake City just days before the death of his grandfather, Brigham Young, Mahonri grew up in a modernizing Western frontier. His artistic journey took him to the Art Students League in New York and later to the Académie Julian in Paris, where he refined his craft. It was in Paris that Young began his celebrated series of boxing works, consulting with French middleweight champion René Devos and collaborating with the Valsuani Foundry, known for casting sculptures for figures like Auguste Rodin and Henri Matisse.
Unlike his contemporaries George Bellows and George Luks, who often highlighted the brutality of boxing, Young focused on the vibrant color, movement, and atmosphere of the matches. His works emphasize the athleticism and grace of the sport, rather than its violence.
In The Artist at Ringside, Young's brushstrokes and use of light create a sense of immediacy, placing the viewer in the midst of the action. The figures—boxers locked in combat, the referee stepping in, and the spectators at the ringside—are rendered with a vividness that brings the scene to life. This work exemplifies Young's ability to capture the spirit of boxing and solidifies his legacy as a master of genre painting.
At the time this painting was created, Young was at the peak of his career, balancing critical acclaim for his artwork with monumental sculptural commissions, including the This Is the Place Monument in Salt Lake City and a statue of his grandfather, Brigham Young, now displayed in the United States Capitol Building.
